| If you are trying to put together a funding package for | | | | schemes will simply require you to be a US citizen or |
| college then a college scholarship should be top of | | | | to have (or be about to obtain) a high school diploma, |
| your list since this is money which you do not have to | | | | others will have much more specific and narrower |
| repay. | | | | requirements. |
| Scholarships come in all shapes and sizes and are not | | | | You will find some amazing categories of scholarships |
| simply for academic high-flyers or students with | | | | including those for male students who are residents of |
| exceptional sporting talents, but are available to just | | | | western Pennsylvania, students on active military duty |
| about everyone in any circumstances from children | | | | in the pay grades of E-4 through E-6 who are studying |
| from specific geographic locations to the children of | | | | in an information technology related specialty and the |
| local widows. The big problem with scholarships is | | | | children of an eligible Alabama veterans who are |
| simply finding them. | | | | attending college in Alabama. In short, there are |
| Now it is true that the majority of scholarships are | | | | scholarships available for a very wide variety of |
| aimed at academic high-flyers with good grades but | | | | different applicants. |
| this is often simply the starting point for selection and, in | | | | Some scholarships will simply require you to meet |
| order to beat others competing for these scholarships | | | | particular criteria while others will require you to |
| with similar grade point averages and SAT scores, | | | | compete for the scholarship, for example by writing an |
| you will often need to produce something else to set | | | | essay of anywhere between 250 and 5,000 words |
| yourself apart such as an award or achievement or a | | | | detailing your personal achievements and outlining why |
| record of community service. | | | | the grantors should award you a scholarship. |
| At this point it is therefore often a good idea to talk to | | | | One important point to note is that while all scholarships |
| your school counselor who should be able to point you | | | | are free in the sense that they do not need to be |
| in the right direction. However, do not simply take his or | | | | repaid, some are taxable. The general rule is that a |
| her word for it and, armed with the basic information | | | | scholarship will not be taxable as long as you are a |
| which they provide, hop onto your computer and | | | | candidate for a degree at a recognized educational |
| search around yourself for the latest up-to-date | | | | institution and all monies received are used to pay for |
| information. | | | | tuition and other fees directly associated with your |
| Two excellent places to start your search are and | | | | enrollment as a student, including payment for such |
| both of which will provide you with long lists of | | | | things as books, supplies and other equipment required |
| scholarship programs, together with the amount of | | | | by your course. |
| each award and brief details of each scheme including | | | | So, whatever your circumstances, there is a good |
| the application requirements. You will find that you can | | | | chance that you may be eligible for scholarship funding |
| narrow your search quite quickly here and reduce your | | | | and the only way to find out is to do your research |
| list to manageable proportions as, while some | | | | and ask around. |